Dream come true as Maddy lands modelling gig in the US

by Anna_Hartley

Anna Hartley
Journalist

I come from a small town called Peak Crossing and grew up in the country. I love the community atmosphere close-knit towns like Peak Crossing and Ipswich have. I firmly believe that everyone has a story to tell and my favourite part about journalism is meeting new and interesting people and sharing their stories. Send any news tips to anna.hartley@qt.com.au

Madeline Stuart, the 18-year-old model who has Down syndrome, made headlines in May when she started her Facebook modelling page.

Since then Madeline has modelled for clothing label Living Dead, had photo shoots with Triple L Designs, fitness clothing brand Manifesta, signed to be face of a US cosmetic company, featured in Woman's Day magazine, appeared on the Today Show, aired on German and Japanese TV and even had a doll created in her image.

She has continued her whirlwind journey, with her page still gaining more than 1000 likes a day.

Madeline is now planning to design and release a range of tights, a product the model is well known for wearing.

However her mother Rosanne insisted their lives hadn't changed much and Maddy was still a typical teenager.

"Our life isn't really that different. We just get a lot more emails now," she said.

"We just take it day by day, you never know when it's going to stop.

"We're really just riding the wave."

Ms Stuart said Maddy was still having the time of her life.

"Madeline wanted to start modelling about a year ago and I thought it would be good for her because a picture says a thousand words," Ms Stuart said.

"Having an intellectual disability she doesn't talk a lot so it was a perfect way for her to show how wonderful she was."